OCOEE, Fla. -- An 11-year-old Ocoee boy was arrested for playing with a toy gun. Police said the arrest was necessary, because it was a safety issue.

The boy was using a rubber band gun and his father said the kid did nothing wrong, but police said they take it as a serious threat and the 11-year-old is facing felony charges.

The crime isn't very common, but Ocoee police said it is serious. It centers on an 11-year0old boy and his toy short-barreled shotgun.

The incident started Sunday afternoon, when the 11-year-old was riding in his dad's pickup near Clarke Road and White Road in Ocoee. Someone driving nearby called police after they said the boy pointed what looked like a real gun out the window. The victim told police she was afraid for her life.

"With that type of behavior, it's hard to tell if it's a real gun or not, especially in their car," said Sgt. Randy Conyers, Ocoee Police Department.

But, according to the charging affidavit, the 11-year-old's dad said nothing was wrong with what his son had done and that he used to do it as a kid. The boy even told police he was pretending to be a cop and thought the victims were laughing with him.

The gun itself only fires rubber bands and was checked into evidence. Police didn't comment on the weapon's color or release any images. Still, the victims said they were frightened and, police said, toy or no toy, the charges are justified.

Eyewitness News spoke to the father of the suspect on the phone. He said his son is out of juvenile detention and that a judge told him the case would be dropped. He also confirmed that the gun was black, but that it looked more like a stick than a gun.

OCOEE, Fla. -- An 11-year-old Ocoee boy was arrested for playing with a toy gun. Police said the arrest was necessary, because it was a safety issue.

The boy was using a rubber band gun and his father said the kid did nothing wrong, but police said they take it as a serious threat and the 11-year-old is facing felony charges.

The crime isn't very common, but Ocoee police said it is serious. It centers on an 11-year0old boy and his toy short-barreled shotgun.

The incident started Sunday afternoon, when the 11-year-old was riding in his dad's pickup near Clarke Road and White Road in Ocoee. Someone driving nearby called police after they said the boy pointed what looked like a real gun out the window. The victim told police she was afraid for her life.

"With that type of behavior, it's hard to tell if it's a real gun or not, especially in their car," said Sgt. Randy Conyers, Ocoee Police Department.

But, according to the charging affidavit, the 11-year-old's dad said nothing was wrong with what his son had done and that he used to do it as a kid. The boy even told police he was pretending to be a cop and thought the victims were laughing with him.

The gun itself only fires rubber bands and was checked into evidence. Police didn't comment on the weapon's color or release any images. Still, the victims said they were frightened and, police said, toy or no toy, the charges are justified.

Eyewitness News spoke to the father of the suspect on the phone. He said his son is out of juvenile detention and that a judge told him the case would be dropped. He also confirmed that the gun was black, but that it looked more like a stick than a gun.

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Oh my God; another one of those black guns. We need to turn this case over to the Federalies to be on the look out in airports and train stations because it will go through the magnetrons and on to public transpotation.

He's 11 and with his Dad?!?! What happened to Officer Friendly tells Dad that some lady got scared and, despite the fact that he used to do it, what his son is doing isn't a good idea? Then, Dad says OK, he and Officer Friendly reminisce about a girl they both knew in high school, and reasonable people go home.

He's 11 and with his Dad?!?! What happened to Officer Friendly tells Dad that some lady got scared and, despite the fact that he used to do it, what his son is doing isn't a good idea? Then, Dad says OK, he and Officer Friendly reminisce about a girl they both knew in high school, and reasonable people go home.

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my guess is the police have a Zero Tolerance policy regarding guns or some other similarly stupid policy.

Absolutely ludicrious. That child was entered into the juvenile justice system for having a rubber band gun. Not only was it an enormous waste of Floridian tax dollars but a pretty good indication that the cops in Ocoee are incompetent and love to waste resources.

Oh Man! I didn't even think of that! No wonder the cops charged right in and arrested the kid. He could have been charged with a felony, according to the report. Naturally. Of course he could. Those things are almost as dangerous as Red Ryder BB guns...

We should all give thanks for the Ocoee cops protecting the eyes of the public at large.

Great job there guys!!!

Way to go!

You sure showed him!!!!!

I'm sure all the other cops around the country are really proud of you......

(Good thing I'm not a cop because I'd be really embarrassed.....! But, that's just me...)

Oh Man! I didn't even think of that! No wonder the cops charged right in and arrested the kid. He could have been charged with a felony, according to the report. Naturally. Of course he could. Those things are almost as dangerous as Red Ryder BB guns...

We should all give thanks for the Ocoee cops protecting the eyes of the public at large.

Great job there guys!!!

Way to go!

You sure showed him!!!!!

I'm sure all the other cops around the country are really proud of you......

(Good thing I'm not a cop because I'd be really embarrassed.....! But, that's just me...)

Oh Man! I didn't even think of that! No wonder the cops charged right in and arrested the kid. He could have been charged with a felony, according to the report. Naturally. Of course he could. Those things are almost as dangerous as Red Ryder BB guns...

We should all give thanks for the Ocoee cops protecting the eyes of the public at large.

Great job there guys!!!

Way to go!

You sure showed him!!!!!

I'm sure all the other cops around the country are really proud of you......

(Good thing I'm not a cop because I'd be really embarrassed.....! But, that's just me...)